Love & Death

Lost

Cooling off beside the van after my argument with Shane, I muttered, "Who does he think he is, dictating what I can and can't do?" I didn't realize someone was nearby until Glenn appeared next to me, shifting uncomfortably. "Glad to be going on another trip with you," he said with a smile. I smiled back and nudged his shoulder. "Me too, Glenn. This time it's going to be successful," I responded, as Rogue barked in agreement. Our attention turned to the van as it roared to life. We rushed over, ensuring they wouldn't depart without us. I threw my bag inside and climbed up, inadvertently bumping into Daryl. Blushing, I looked up and quickly apologized before moving past him. As I was about to take my seat, a hand on my shoulder halted me. "Shayna, hold up," the new sheriff called out. I turned and inquired, "Yes?" He proposed that I stay behind. I scoffed, "I can handle myself; I've been in and out of the city countless times." I stood with my arms crossed in defiance. "Nevertheless, I believe you're needed here," he persisted. I exhaled; aware he wouldn't back down. "Fine," I conceded, my anger evident as I stormed out of the van and onto the ground, then strode away to prevent a scene. I settled on a log, sulking as the men drove away, leaving me behind once more.

Hours later, we all gathered around the fire, exchanging stories and laughter. Morales cracked a joke about Dale's watch, which puzzled us, but we laughed anyway. Amy rose to her feet. "Where are you going?" Andrea asked. "Off to the bathroom, want to come?" Amy replied sarcastically. Andrea let her go. The peace was broken by a scream that pierced the night. We stood up to see Amy being attacked. Andrea ran to help Amy, while we scattered to fend off the attackers. Desperately, I looked for my brother and my dog, but they were nowhere to be found. I fought until one of them was right on me. I cried out, just as an arrow struck it in the head. Daryl had saved me, pulling me to safety and holding me tight as the last shot echoed. Together, we looked over the aftermath. I pulled away from Daryl, searching for my brother, but he was missing. "Has anyone seen my brother?" I asked desperately, but there were only head shakes in response. Then, I heard the sound of paws and a whimper behind me. Turning around, I saw Rogue, my dog, approaching with my brother's necklace in his mouth—the one I had given him. My eyes filled with tears. "Where is he, boy?" I asked. Rogue pulled at my jacket, urging me to follow.

We arrived at the spot where my brother lay, his blue shirt standing out like a beacon amidst the chaos of fallen bodies. Panic surged within me as I sprinted to him, a tidal wave of helplessness crashing over my heart. I gently pushed aside the lifeless forms, driven by an urgent need to reach him, and cradled his head in my lap. The others formed a hesitant circle around us, their faces etched with grief and fear, each of us acutely aware of the grim reality that hung over us.

As my fingers brushed his cheek, I saw a flicker of recognition in his eyes. That moment of hope quickly turned to despair as I noticed the bite mark on his neck—a cruel reminder of the nightmare we were trapped in. Instinctively, I pressed my hands over the wound, yearning to shield him from this harsh truth. "No, no, no," Shay cried, her voice breaking as tears cascaded down her cheeks. She pressed her palm against his injury, desperately trying to stem the flow of his lifeblood.

"Everything will be okay; you will be okay. Rick said the CDC is looking for a cure; they can help you," she urged, her eyes wide with desperation, searching for any glimmer of hope from him. He offered a faint smile, a bittersweet expression that shattered my heart. With a trembling hand, he touched her cheek, his warmth a stark contrast to the growing coldness of his body.

"There's nothing left to save me, sister," he said softly, each word pulling him further from us. Those simple phrases extinguished the last flicker of hope in Shay, replaced by an overwhelming darkness that threatened to consume us all. The weight of his acceptance hung heavy in the air, a tangible reminder of the helplessness we faced together. Shay's tears fell freely, echoing our shared sorrow.

Shay's breath hitched as she absorbed the finality of his words, despair tightening its grip on her heart. "No... please," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Don't say that." She held him tightly, as if her sheer will could anchor him to this world.

Around us, the others exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of sympathy and fear, unsure how to comfort her in the face of such an irreversible loss. An uneasy silence enveloped us, punctuated only by Shay's quiet sobs and the distant chaos unfolding outside. The weight of our grim reality pressed down on us—not just the impending loss but the uncertainty that loomed over all our heads.

"I can't lose you," Shay managed to say, her voice barely rising above a whisper. "You were always my protector, my strength. You can't leave me like this." She pressed her forehead against his, searching for any sign that he was still fighting.

He squeezed her hand gently, his eyes clouded with pain but filled with an understanding that transcended our bleak circumstances. "You're stronger than you think, Sis. You always have been. You need to keep going— for Mom, for everyone... for yourself."

His words hung in the air, battling against the despair that threatened to swallow us both. Shay shook her head, tears streaming down her face, her anguish pooling in her chest like ice. "But I need you! I need you to fight! I can't do this without you!"

The world around us felt surreal, a dream slipping through our fingers. Each rasping breath he took seemed more labored than the last, a countdown to an unavoidable end. Memories flooded Shay's mind—a bittersweet rush of his laughter, the warmth of his embrace, the countless times he had been her shield and her joy.

"I always thought we'd have more time..." she murmured, her voice barely a whisper in the suffocating silence.

"I know," he replied, his voice growing weaker.

"You lied to me," I gasped, my voice thick with grief. He gave a frail smile, his hand brushing softly against my cheek. "Words can't change what has been done," he murmured, regret lacing his tone. I glanced around the crowd, desperation flooding my voice. "Why is everyone just standing there? Help me! I can't do this without him!" As his color faded, my cries grew louder. "Please don't leave me. I'm nothing without you! You're my twin, my other half!"

He smiled weakly, as if that fragile smile could alleviate our suffering. "I have no choice. You'll find a way to be okay. You'll conquer this world. Being your brother was the best part of my life, and I can depart in peace knowing I lived it fully," he rasped, blood staining his lips.

My sobs erupted into uncontrollable wails as he slipped away from my embrace. "It doesn't get any better than this," I cried, trying to hold onto the remnants of his presence.

"I love you," he whispered, his final words a gentle caress against my shattered heart. "Please don't go. Come back to me—I need you."

But there was no breath, no movement; I lay there, mourning his departure, clutching his lifeless body. Hours passed, and I remained frozen in my sorrow. Exhaustion wrapped its heavy arms around me, pulling me into a deep stillness It felt as if my spirit had perished alongside his.

Time became meaningless since his passing. People drifted by, their faces a blend of concern and pity, but I lost myself in my brother's still features, hoping against hope for his eyes to flicker open, revealing the warm brown that mirrored our father's. The night stretched on, thick with silence and tension as the others remained too fearful to sleep, acutely aware that one of our own had been bitten and was slowly succumbing to darkness.

I hugged him tightly, denying anyone who approached, desperate to hold onto the fleeting moments I had with him. But it wasn't long before I felt the cold touch of his hand, once so warm against my skin. Slowly, I lifted my head and looked into his lifeless eyes as he growled softly, his hands reaching up, a monstrous instinct clawing within him.

For a fleeting moment, I felt the urge to let him end my suffering, but I knew he wouldn't want that. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there," I wept, guilt washing over me. "This is all my fault. If we had just left when I said, none of this would have happened." I ran my fingers through his hair, feeling heat turn to chill. "I'll always love you," I said, my voice trembling, as I pulled out my knife to end the suffering of my twin.